Audio By Carbonatix
Two teenagers who peed into a pot of broth at a hotpot restaurant have been ordered to pay 2.2m yuan ($309,000; £227,000) to two catering companies in China.
The incident, which happened in February at a Shanghai branch of China's biggest hotpot chain Haidilao, sparked widespread criticism after the 17-year-olds posted a video of their drunken act online.
There is no suggestion that anyone consumed the contaminated broth but Haidilao had offered to pay thousands of diners who dined at the restaurant in the days following the incident.
In March, Haidilao sought more than 23m yuan in losses, saying this took into account the amount it compensated customers over the incident.
Last Friday, a Shanghai court found that the teenagers had infringed upon the companies' property rights as well as reputation through "acts of insult", noting that their actions contaminated tableware and "caused strong discomfort among the public".
It also found that the teens' parents had "failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship" and ordered that they bear the compensation, state media reported.
This includes 2m yuan for operational and reputational damage, 130,000 yuan to one of the caterers for tableware losses and cleaning expenses, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs.
However the court ruled that any additional compensation Haidilao offered to its customers, beyond what they were billed, was a "voluntary business decision", and therefore should not be borned by the teenagers.
Haidilao had offered to compensate more than 4,000 diners who visited the branch between 24 February - the date of their visit - and 8 March, both with a full refund and a cash compensation that is 10 times the amount they were billed.
They also replaced all hotpot equipment and said they had conducted cleaning and disinfection works.
Haidilao has expanded quickly since it opened its first restaurant in Jianyang in Sichuan province. It now operates more than 1,000 restaurants across the world.
The company is known for its customer service and family-friendly atmosphere, where ladies can receive manicures and kids are treated to candy floss while waiting for a table.
Latest Stories
-
Ex-Health Minister Agyemang Manu faces charges in the coming weeks over questionable COVID-19 deals – Ofosu Kwakye reveals
43 minutes -
Ahafo ranks high in national health performance review; records significant gains in maternal and child health
2 hours -
Metro Mass Transit fights back against ‘brazen’ private takeover of Opera Square terminal
3 hours -
Trump calls for allies to help secure Strait of Hormuz as Iran vows to step up retaliation
3 hours -
US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq attacked with missile that hits helipad
4 hours -
CSA reports rise in cyber incidents as over 23,000 enquiries recorded
5 hours -
Local dishes remain favourite at buffets and events
6 hours -
F1 cancels Bahrain, Saudi Arabia races due to Iran war
6 hours -
Three more Iran football team members change minds over asylum
7 hours -
WAEC Awards: PRESEC-Legon student grabs best business student prize
7 hours -
Bills Micro-Credit suspends officers over altercation with customer, hands them over to police
9 hours -
Court jails foreign national 5 years after GH¢1.9m & US$191k fake currency conviction
9 hours -
E.P. College of Education raises alarm over infrastructure deficit
10 hours -
Hamas urges key ally Iran to halt attacks on Gulf states
11 hours -
Trump urges UK and other nations to send ships to help secure Strait of Hormuz after Iranian attacks
11 hours
